The Irish standard., 1887-01-01
81. so PER YEAR.

plastered over; but the historic plaster
OF Knock is no longer on the church;it
has been entirely removed by those
who went thither to be cured. The
gable end, where the holy vision was
seen, presents curious appearance.
Up against the side of the wall, and en-
closed by railing, are hundreds of
crutches and other supports, besides
bandages, boots, straps, and other such
articles. There are also great num-
Der of medicine bottles and articles
from the drug shop; and conspicuous
among the miscellaneous collection is
biretta OF an American priest. A statue
Of the Blessed Virgin is within this
enclosure, which is shut out from visi-
tors. After Mass those who visited
the church came out and prayed there,
and generally deposited within some
article suggestive of sheir visit. Imme-
diately behind this fence is a large rack
full of canes and stout walking sticks,
and was told that numbers Of these
had been taken away. 1t seemed as if
thousands of them still remained.
When alighted from the car and en-
tered the church [ was a good deal sur
prised at the interior. which is that of a
really handsome church. Large massive
columns support the roof, and there are
many beautiful statues and other Orna-
ments. There were no pews, but some
few chairs scattered in various parts OF
the church. A dozen or SO people,
chiefly women, We're waiting for Mass
to begin, and in one of the confessionals
there was priest hearing confessions.
After nearly every one in the church
had been heard, the clergyman came
out and Low Mass with very excellent
singing commenced. 1t was the 5th Of
August, and the anniyelsar, OF an ap.
partition. Benediction followed, and
afterwards a man who lived around tlle
church, accOSted rae at the door, and
said he would say some prayers for my
intentions. Those who remained in the
church Joined in the lltanies and other
prayers which he recit2d; afterwards
nearly all repaired to the end of the
church where the apparitions had been
seen.
/ had a few minutes conversation
with Archdeacon Kavanagh, the yener-
able clergyman. who invited me to his
house and listened to whatI had to say.
He was singularlY impressive man and
his conversation was grave and scriptur
al; but from him, as natural as if he
addressed one from the pulpit. Of the
many parish priests met with in Ire
land, all OF whom carried the dignity of
their calling in their manner and Ian
guage, no one is so vivldly impressed
on my mind as this gentleman. Wheth-
er it was from the association of the
place in which he moved or whether
the place being new to me was exhibit
Ell in it's best human side by this man.
[ know not, but he seemed the worthy
guardian of a Shrine such as I believe
Knock to be. Poor as is the country
and it's plous people, and forbidding as
everything except the church looked on
that drear, bleak morning, there must
be an unseen radience lowering oyer the
spot where the Holy Virgin appeared.
My stay was too short, but l was due
at Dublin that evening, and I reached
it. The place where put up at Bally-
haunis exerted itself in an effort at
breakfast, which was all the more ac-
ceptable for being unexpectedly good.
1t was not at all in keeping with lodg-
ing anG posting facilities; but / for
gave the incongruity. One reason that
fewer people visit Knock, is the diff
Guilty Of getting there and the want Of
accommodation afterwards. 1t does
not indicate q proper spirit in pill
grim to be too nice in his material COM
forts; but it may be otherwise with the
usual tourist. Thousands of foreign
ers would go to Knock with worthier
motive than they go to Killarney or the
Giants Causeway, if their conveiences
were looked after more carefully. I
confess it seened to me that the Irish,
priest as we'll as laymen, knew less Of
Knock than an American would have
had expected. In an Island of Saints.
one Shrine more, may be of less account
than in our land Of Sinners. but it
Knock we're in America I;think Amer
leans would visit 1t. 1t is place where
one can put aside his worldliness for
a half-hour and feel like the Lawgiyer
of old that he stands upon holy ground.
Toronto. Can. D. A.. O'SULLIyAN.
A Thoughtful Editor.
The editor of a paper in the far West